Mediator cites 'progress' in port labor negotiations

Negotiators in a protracted labor dispute between workers and management at sea ports along the East Coast are "making good progress," the mediator that is overseeing the talks is reporting.

A potential shut down of several ports along the Atlantic coast on Oct. 1 was narrowly avoided when the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) agreed to extend their negotiations after they stalled in August.

Retail groups had warned that a shut down of the East Coast ports would have ripple effects across the entire U.S. economy as goods are being shipped into the country for the holiday season.

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) Director George Cohen said over the weekend that there were "five days of productive negotiations between the parties" last week and that the negotiations will resume this week.

"I wish to commend the parties for their hard work and commitment to this process," Cohen said in a statement. "The parties are making good progress on a number of difficult issues at the full committee and subcommittee levels.”

Cohen said the FMCS could not reveal further details about the talks "due to the sensitive nature of these high profile negotiations."

Groups representing the retail industry have cheered the extension of the negotiations beyond the original Oct. 1 deadline.

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